Car-coupling



No. 606,688. Patented July 5, I898.

I. E. SMITH. v

CAR COUPLING (Application filed Oct. 8, 1897.) (No Model.)

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Patented July 5, I898.

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l. E. SMITH.

OAR COUPLING.

(Appl a fi (10!: s 1897) ("01? Model-)- fiiinesses: a5

PETERS 0a., PHoTo-u'ma, WASHINGTON, n. c.

' PATENT FFIC.

JACOB E. SMITH, OF HOMESTEAD, PENNSYLVANIA.

CAR-COUPLING.

- SPECIFICATION forming partbflhetters Patent No. 606,688, dated July 5,1898.

Applicationfiled 0ctober 8, lfl9'7. Serial No. 654,584. (No model.)

couplings, the object being to provide a strong 7 and durable couplingin which the parts are so constructed and arranged as to positivelyengage the coupling-link automatically when the cars come'together,distributing the tension strain in such manner as to prevent breakage orrupture of the draw-head and relieving the locking-pin of anyconsiderable pressure to insure its proper manipulation in uncoupling. I

The invention includes the particular con- 7 struction of draw-head bywhich the couplinglink is permitted to slip out of said draw-head whenone of the cars is thrown at an excessive angle with respect to theother by reason of becoming derailed or through other accident thereto.

The invention also contemplates an arrangement by which the improvedcoupling is readily and conveniently applied to the well known skeletoncoupling of; the link-'and pin yp The above objects are-accomplished bythe construction and disposition of'the instrumentalities shown in theaccompanying drawings and described in detail in the followingspecification, and what I consider to be novel in the art to which-myinvention pertains is more specifically setforth in'the appended claims.e

In the drawings, Figure 1- is a front elevation of a car-couplingconstructed in accordance with my invention] Fig. 2 is a plan view withthe top removed. Fig. 8 is a verticaltransverse sectional view. Fig. 4is a detail view'of the locking-pin; Fig. 5 is a plan view showing theapplication of the principal parts of the invention to the ordinaryskeleton coupling-head, the locking-pin being removed. Fig. 6 is a sideelevation of Fig. 7 is a detail view of the locking-pin used inconnection with the construction shown in Figs. 5 and 6. Fig. 8 is adetail perspective View of the jaw. Fig. 9 is a modification of theoperating means for the jaw.

Refer'ringmore particularly to said drawings, A designates thedraw-head, which is connected to a draw-bar A of any approvedconstruction, the top A of said draw-head being rigidly secured to thelower part or body to form a part thereof. The draw-head presents theordinary flaring mouth leading to a central link-chamber, the side wallsof which are curved in the segment of a circle, as shown more clearly inFig. 2, while the rear end has a vertical dovetailed recess 1) extendingthrough the bottom. In each side of the linkchamber is mounted acylindrical jaw O, having an axial opening 0, through which passes avertical shaft D,'bearing at its endsin the top and bottom of thedraw-head, the lower end being squared and stepped in a correspondingrecess. The axial opening is somewhat larger than the shaft to receive ahelical spring D, encircling the latter, to which it is secured at oneend, the other end of the spring being attached to the jaw, said springserving the purpose of returning the jaw to a normal position, a limitof movement being had bya lug c on the jaw working in a recess in thetop of the draw-head. Each jaw is provided with a projection or arm 0adjoining which the body of said jaw has a segmental recess presenting acam projection 0 which engages the coupling-link S, while flthe arms 0form the parts against which the link strikes to swing said jaws andalso the parts with which the locking-pin engages, as will hereinafterappear.

The top A of the draw-head is constructed to present a central raisedportion, the side edges at the forward end of which are beveled orundercut and opposed to corresponding edges of the main portion of thetop, forming oppositely-inclined slotsfc l' d, through which thecoupling-linkiwill pass when the draw-head is turned to-a certainanglein either direction. The forward end of the raised portion of thetop is provided with a vertical opening d, registering with acorresponding opening in the bottom of the drawhead, to receive anordinary pin when coupling with a car having the link-and-pin type ofdraw-head. At the rear end of the raised portion of the top A is formeda rectangular recess or vertical opening connecting wit-l1 a dovetailedopening in the main portion of said top, said openings correspondingwith the cross-section of the upper part of the pin, the dovetailedopening forming a continuation of the recess 1) and opening into arectangular opening (1*. In the ends of the lastmcntioned opening arepivoted swinging dogs E E, having inwardly-projecting hooks e anddepending tails e", the hooks of said dogs engaging the lower end of aforward enlargement f of the locking-pin F, the longitudinal edges ofthe latter being beveled to provide a better engagement for the hooks.The tails e of the dogs are engaged by the projections or arms of thecylindrical jaws O to swing said dogs out of engagement with the pins,said arms being recessed to present shoulders c, which strike the tails.

The eonplinglink S is provided at its ends with heads 8, adapted to beengaged by the cam projections c of the jaws C, while the body portionof the link is preferably solid, though it may be provided withlongitudinal slots in order to make a coupling with an ordinarylink-and-pin style of draw-head.

It will be understood that the locking-pin drops into the draw-head bygravity, being held in position for coupling by the swinging dogs. Inorder to raise the pin from the side of the car, it is connected to thecrank portion 9 of a shaft G, which extends across the front of the car,being journaled in bearings which permit a shifting movement of saidshaft. The crank portion of the shaft is held raised to support the pinout of operation by means of a step II, with which either member of thecrank may engage, said step being of such a width as to permit the crankportion to straddle the same and drop. The connection between thelocking-pin and crank portion is a flexible one, or chain, which willnot interfere with the automatic operation of the coupling.

In Figs. 5, 6, and '7 I have shown aconstruction of parts to adapt thecoupling to be applied to an ordinary skeleton draw-head. In thismodification I designates the front, and I the loop or frame, of theskeleton coupling, while K designates the main portion or body of myimproved coupling, said body being slipped laterally between the top andbottom of the frame I and shaped at its forward end to properly engagethe front I, against which it is held by any suitable device, preferablythat shown in the drawings. Lateral movement of the body is prevented bythe top plates K K, which are rigidly secured to said body and bearagainst the top of the frame I, the parts being further braced, inconnection with the skeleton coupling, by means of curved tie-rods L,extending through the body and through a supplemental front M, passingby the inner edges of the front I of the skeleton coupling. Thetightening-nuts at the rear ends of the tie-rods are let into the bodyK, so as not to strike the dead-wood of the car when the coupling-headis forced rearward by the opposing draw-head in coupling, and it will benoted that the said tie-rods where they pass the jaws N form stops tolimit the movement thereof. These jaws are constructed slightlydifferent from the jaws 0, being provided in addition to the arms '11,,with projections a, which engage the lockingpin 0, the draw-head Khaving vertical recesses p p at opposite sides of the skeleton frame toreceive the members of the lockingpin, said members being beveled toconform with the shape of the vertical openings formed by the recessesin the draw-head and jaws. The locking-pin is engaged by swinging dogs RR, pivoted in openings in the top plate K and having hooks r and tails'1", the latter being engaged by shoulders on the projections a.

From the foregoing description, in connection with the accompanyingdrawings,the construction and operation of my improved carcoupling willbe readily understood, for the parts being arranged with the locking-pinsupported by the dogs the coupling-link entering the draw-head willstrike the arms of the jaws and forcing them rearward will trip saiddogs, releasing the pin, which drops into engagement with the aforesaidarms, the head of the link being engaged by the cam projections of thejaws. Thus it will be seen that the operation of coupling isaccomplished automatically, and to prevent couplingfor instance, inbackinga car or shifting in making up trainsit is only necessary toraise the pin by means of the shaft, and by shifting said shaft to causeits engagement with the step H the said pin will remain elevated or outof operation. IVhen the cars are coupled, the draft on the link willcause the greatest strain to be at the point where the jaws impin geagainst the side walls of the link-chamber, thus relieving the arms to aconsiderable extent.

In the modification Fig. 9 a plug 91. is inserted in an opening thereforin the jaw, said plug having an inclined surface upon which rides asimilar surface of a collar T, fixed to a shaft 25, which is stepped inthe draw-head. By this means the jaw is returned to its normal positionwithout the aid of springs, the gravity of the jaw being sufficient.

A car-coupling constructed in accordance with my invention presents onethat is exceedingly strong and durable, the several parts being quickand positive in their action and not liable to get out of order. It willalso be observed that the improved coupling can be readily applied to anordinary skeleton draw head without in any manner altering the same.

Having thus described my invention, I claim- 1. In a car-coupling, thecombination of the IIO the sides of the link-chamber, cylindricaldrawhead, rotatable jaws mounted therein and provided with camprojections, a lockingpin having a vertical movement in the drawhead andadapted to engage the rotatable jaws, swinging dogs pivoted at theirupper ends to the draw-head, said dogs having hooks and gravitated toengage the pin when the latter is raised, ,the dogs being so positionedas to be tripped by the jaws, substantially as shown and described.

2. In a car-coupling, the combination of the draw head, rotatable jawsmounted therein and provided with cam projections, swinging dogs mountedwithin the draw head at the rear end thereof, said dogs presenting hooksand tails, and a locking-pin engaged by the hooks of the dogs and heldnormally elevated thereby; the tails being positioned to be struck bythe rotatable jaws, substantially as shown and'described.

3. In a car-coupling, the combination of the draw head, rotatable jawsmounted therein and having axial openings, stationary rods extendingthrough said openings, springs encircling the rods and connected theretoand to the jaws to move the latter in one direction, and stops limitingthe movement of the jaws; together with swinging dogs pivoted within therear end of the draw-head, said dogs having hooks and tails, and alockingpin supported by the hooks of said dogs, the latter being sopositioned that the tails will be struck by the rotatable jaws to tripsaid dogs, substantially as shown and for the purpose set forth.

4. In a car-coupling, the combination of the draw-head having a verticaldovetailed recess in its rear end and segmental recesses in jaws mountedin said segmental recesses and provided with arms and cam projections,the former having shoulders at their upper ends; dogs pivoted within therear end of the drawhead, and a locking-pin having a forward projectionat its upper portion and beveled side edges, the pin being supported bythe dogs engaging the projection thereof and said dogs tripped by theupper shoulders on the jaws, substantially as herein shown anddescribed.

5. In a car-coupling, the combination of the draw-head havingoppositely-inclined openended slots in the top communicating with thelink -chamber and opening through the said top; rotatable jaws mountedwithin the linkchamber and presenting cam projections, and a locking-pinadapted to engage the jaws; together with a coupling-link shaped to beengaged by the cam projections of the jaws and of a size to pass throughthe open-ended slots, substantially as shown and for the purpose setforth.

6. In a car-coupling, the combination with a skeleton draw head, of abody or frame adapted to slip laterally therein, top plates secured tothe body to bear against the top of the skeleton draw-head, asupplemental front 'in presence of two witnesses.

JACOB E. SMITH. Witnesses:

A, A. McOANDLEss, N. B. MoOoLLuM.

